The Prince of Wales, has continued another busy week at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), ahead of Friday’s vote that will decide if he will succeed The Queen as Head of the Commonwealth. Yesterday, Prince Charles accompanied the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, to the Science Museum in London, and praised Asian medicine practices.
The Prince arrived at the event in a Jaguar I-Pace, Jaguar Land Rover’s first fully-electric vehicle. Jaguar Land Rover is a subsidiary of Tata Motors Limited, an Indian automotive manufacturing company.
The heir to the throne and the Indian Prime Minister then jointly unveiled a plaque for the UK’s first centre of excellence for Indian traditional medicine.
The Prince of Wales arrived at the @sciencemuseum today in the @Jaguar I-Pace, Jaguar Land Rover’s first fully electric vehicle. pic.twitter.com/HbJ29Pv5a4
— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) April 18, 2018
The centre of excellence, which will open later this year in London and is partly funded by the Indian government, will undertake evidence-based research into the effects of yoga, Ayurveda – an ancient mind-body health system and Indian traditional medicine.
Prince Charles spoke about his interest in Asian medicine after watching Arunima Kumar Dance, a group of traditional Indian performers. Miss Kumar said later: “The Prince asked us about our hand gestures and when I told them they were not only expressive but have wellness properties he said he was interested in Ayurveda and yoga.”
The Prince is a long-term advocate of the use of complementary medicine alongside traditional methods of medical treatment and was given a white necklace to wear – or mala – when he arrived at a reception.
The Prince and @narendramodi watch a performance by the Akademi South Asian dance group at the @sciencemuseum.#CHOGM2018 pic.twitter.com/bgtBlIqeMP
— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) April 18, 2018
Dr Michael Dixon, Chairman of the College of Medicine and Charles’ medical adviser, who is involved in the new centre, said: “This is going to be the first Ayurvedic centre of excellence in the UK.
“We will be providing, on the NHS, patients with yoga, with demonstrations and education on healthy eating, Ayurvedic diets, and massage including reflexology and Indian head massage.”
During the visit, the Prince and the Prime Minister, who met in India when Charles briefly toured the country last year, were guided through an exhibition about Indian science and innovation.
‘Illuminating India: 5000 Years of Science and Innovation’, is an exhibition celebrating India’s central role in the history of science and technology, by exploring its influential contributions to subjects as diverse as space exploration, mathematics, communication and engineering.
Ian Blatchford, director of the Science Museum said: “They were having a great time going round the exhibition together.”
Prince Charles then went onto the closing session of the Commonwealth Business Forum at London’s Guildhall.
the prince of wales attended the closing session of the Commonwealth Business Forum at Guildhall. (clarence house)
The forum discussed opportunities to enhance trade, showcase investment opportunities and promote sustainable development across the Commonwealth.
Organised by the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, in partnership with the City of London, the Business Forum has become one of the key events in the Commonwealth calendar.
The forum addressed the CHOGM 2018 theme ‘Towards a common future’ and focused on six key areas; accessing modern financial services, easing the pathway for business and growth, harnessing Commonwealth technology and innovation, creating a new attitude to sustainable business, mobilising an export economy and attracting inward investment.
Making the most of the spring sunshine, Charles next hosted a reception for Prince’s Trust International in the gardens of his London home, Clarence House.
Prince’s Trust International operates in Australia, Barbados, Canada, India, Malta, New Zealand and Pakistan, and was founded by the future King in 2015 to share the successful programmes of the UK youth charity, The Prince’s Trust. For over 40 years the charity has helped more than 870,000 disadvantaged young people across the United Kingdom to turn their lives around; three in four young people supported move into work, education or training.
prince charles hears from those helped by prince’s trust international during a reception at clarence house (clarence house)
prince charles hosted a reception in his back garden for prince’s trust international (clarence house)
For his next engagement, The Prince of Wales was joined by his younger brother, Prince Andrew, Duke of York as they attended the Malaria No More Summit. Prince Andrew recently became patron of Malaria No More UK.
Addressing the summit, Prince Charles said: “Combatting malaria is without doubt an issue of truly global urgency.”
“I am encouraged and inspired to see how real is the determination of the international community to overcome this dreadful disease.
“Despite the recent hard-won successes over the last 12 years of a 25% decline of new cases and a fall of 42% of deaths from the disease, it is tragically evident that much still remains to be done.”
The Prince of Wales and The Duke Of York meet Bill Gates, the CEO of Malaria No More (clarence house)
prince charles attended a summit on tackling malaria with prince andrew (clarence house)
Emphasising his years of work and commitment to the Commonwealth, Charles continued: “I have been lucky enough to travel throughout the Commonwealth and beyond for a very long time, unbelievably, it seems to me at least, for the last, I tried to work it out the other day, sixty-five years, and have only too often witnessed at first-hand the devastation that malaria can wreak on communities.
“I am delighted therefore, that this issue is being addressed during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.”
On Thursday, Charles, 69, delivered a speech at the official opening of CHOGM at Buckingham Palace, before assisting the Monarch at a reception for new Commonwealth Heads of Government, and attending the Queen’s dinner in the evening.
On Friday, the Heads of Government are expected to decide whether the Prince will succeed his mother as Head of the Commonwealth. The Queen, and the British, Australian, and Canadian Prime Ministers have all offered their support for Charles to take on the role as King.
